Leather supporting hook



AWM Wy m V. MUSE MQW LEATHER SUPPORTING HOOK Filed Sept. 28', 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l @www V. MRAUSE LEATHER SUPPORTING HOOK Filed Sept. 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AWM m im@ CTI Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEATHER SUPPORTING HOOK Application September 28, 1934, Serial No. 745,923

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in leather supports and refers more particularly to a hook for supporting tanned hides for drying.

In the tanning of leather, the hides are hung from suitable overhead supports during various stages of the tanning process and particularly while being dried.

Heretofore, it has been the general custom to support the hides on nails or pointed hooks iixed to suitable overhead supports. This method is fairly suitable for thin hides such as sheep skins, but for heavy cow hides and particularly that portion thereof which is used ior sole leather, the formation of holes in the hide for engagement with the hooks, and the excessive weight of the wet hides, made this method very unsatisfactory.

To overcome this objection gripping devices were provided to hold the hides, but even with the improvement which these gripping devices afforded, the removal of the hides from theV overhead supports'fwhichis known to the industry as stripping, still was a diiicult and tedious task, as it entailed simultaneously lifting the hides and reaching up to loosen the gripping devices.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide improved means for supporting hides and leather during the various stages of the tanning process, which is automatically operable to grip the hides merely upon engagement of the hides therewith and is likewise automatically releasable by a slight upward movement of the hides.

Another object of this invention is to provide a supporting hook of the character described which is of sturdy construction and so designed as to enable the manufacture thereof in units adapted to be placed end to end to form one continuous row of hooks.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate two complete examples of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view showing two adjacent hooks embodying this invention and illustrating the` manner of suspending them from an overhead support;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a section oi a complete installation and illustrating the manner in which the hooks suspenda hide; and

Figure 3 is a side view of the modified form of hook.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral designates an overhead supporting structure from which rows of hooks 6 are suspended by means of tie rods 'I and horizontal supporting rods 8.

The rows of hooks 6 are cast in integral sections arranged end to end and fixed to the underside of the supporting rods 8 by U straps 9 extending across the supporting rods and xed at their lower ends to the hook sections.

The uninterrupted upper portions II) of the hook sections are substantially I shaped in cross section with their upper surfaces concave to fit the contour of the horizontal supporting rods which may be piping, as shown.

Adjacent the T ttings II, by which the horizontal supporting rods 8 are attached to the tie rods l, the upper portions of the hook sections are cut away to accommodate the added diameter of the T ttings.

Each hook consists of a stationary jaw I2 and a complementary movable jaw I3. The stationary jaw comprises a downwardly extending nger having a pointed edge I4 arranged to bite into one side of the hide. Beneath the pointed edge I4, the nger is cut off at an angle as at I5 to guide the hide up into the space between the stationary jaw and a depending finger I6 from which the movable jaw is supported.

The linger I6 has a recess I'I to receive an attaching ear I8 on the movable jaw which is pivoted thereto by a pin I9.

A toe on the movable jaw engages the lower end 2l of the linger I6 to limit the downward movement of the jaw.

The free end of the movable jaw is pointed as at 22 and when the movable jaw is in its normal position defined by the engagement of the toe 20 with the lower portion 2| of the finger, to which it drops by gravity, the points of the stationary and movable jaws lie close together.

Consequently, upon the upward insertion of a hide, the movable jaw will be swung upwardly, and as the pivotal axis of the movable jaw lies beneath the pointed edge I4 on the stationary jaw, a subsequent downward pull on the hide,

causes the movable jaw to bite into the hide and clamp the same between it and the stationary jaw. In View of the fact that the hide is Wet when it is hung up, the points of the jaws bite deeply into its sides and thus rmly grip the same.

Beneath its pointed end 22, the movable jaw curves as at 24, downwardly and away from the stationary jaw. This lower curved edge of the movable jaw is so located with respect to the pointed edge I4 on the stationary jaw and the pivotal axis of the movable jaw, that the adjacent face of the hide upon the slight upward movement of the hide after it is dried lifts the point 22 out of its gripping position, as shown at the right on Figure l, and permits the hide to be slid out of engagement with the jaws. A slight sidewise motion of the hide facilitates its disengagement from the jaws.

In no instance, however, need the operator reach up to open the jaws or hold the same open. The stripping of the dried hides from their supporting hooks is thus accomplished in considerably less time than has heretofore been possible.

Ordinarily, the hook sections are cast of aluminum, but if desired they may be formed of cast iron or other metal, and when so formed, the stationary hook I2 with which the outer side of the leather is engaged, is equipped with a boot 25 as shown in Figure 3.

The boot 25 is formed of sheet aluminum to t the contour of the stationary jaw and is held in place by tangs 26 on its opposite ends engaged over flanges 21 on the sides of the jaw.

Such boots may also be used to afford a new gripping edge in the event the stationary jaw becomes worn, or to decrease the space between the Jaws.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Means to support wet hides and the like for drying, comprising a pair of spaced downwardly depending fingers, a sharp edge on one of the fingers to bite into one side of a hide inserted between the fingers, a gripping jaw pivoted to the other finger and having a work engaging part adapted upon swinging of the gripping jaw by gravity to move toward and above the sharp edge in gripping co-action therewith so that a hide is automatically gripped upon being inserted between the spaced ngers, and smooth surfaced means on the pivoted gripping jaw beneath the work engaging part engageable by the adjacent face of the hide upon upward movement of the hide to lift the gripping jaw to a non-gripping position.

2. Means to support wet hides and the like for drying comprising, a pair of spaced jaws, one of which is fixed and has a Work gripping portion, the other jaw being movable, means pivotally mounting the movable jaw for swinging movement toward and from the xed jaw, said movable jaw having a work engaging part adapted to be positioned above the work engaging part of the xed jaw and said movable jaw being biased toward said xed jaw whereby a hide inserted between the jaws is automatically gripped by said work engaging parts of the jaws. and means on said movable jaw beneath its work engaging part and having a smooth surfaced outwardly bulging shape so located with respect to said other jaw that the hide thickness upon inward movement of the hide from the position it occupies while gripped causes the hide to 7 engage said means and lift and hold the movable jaw in a non-gripping position.

3. In a hook of the character described, a stationary jaw, a movable jaw mounted to swing toward and from the stationary jaw to clamp a hide between it and the stationary jaw, and a boot mounted on the stationary jaw to cover its face engageable with the hide, said boot being formed of non-corrosive metal to protect the hide and affording a gripping portion i'or the stationary jaw.

VICTOR KRAUSE. 

